Door lock



INVENTOR. Maia/7.5' f?. WELCH N. A. WELCH DOOR LOCK Filed Feb. 23, 1951 March l0, 1953 Patentecl Mar. 10, 1953 DOOR LOCK Nicholas A. Welch, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to The American Hardware Corporation, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 23, 1951, Serial No. 212,402

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a door lock and more particularly to locks having operating members, such as a knob, which is adapted to be locked against movement so as to prevent operation of the lock mechanism.

An object of this invention is to provide novel and highly eiicient means for locking the operating member of a door lock against rotation to thereby prevent unauthorized operation of the lock.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel locking mechanism which is particularly adapted for door locks of the cylindrical type and which is economical to produce.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and the accompanying 'drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a door lock of the cylindrical type with a portion thereof being shown in central horizontal section and showing the locking mechanism in unlocked position.

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional end View on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and with the knob omitted.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and with the rose omitted.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the locking mechanism showing the same in locked position.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the mechanism in locked position.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the mechanism in locked position.

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the mechanism illustrating a modied form of the invention.

` Fig. 9 is a similar view but showing the mechanism in locked position and the cam member in elevation.

Fig. 10 is a sectional end view on line Ill-I0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a similar view on line I I-I I of Fig. 8. As illustrated in the drawings, a door lock embodying the present invention may comprise a case 5 which is preferably of the cylindrical type and contains a latch operating mechanism, such as shown in the co-pending application of Ernest L. Teich et al., Serial No. 211,939, filed February 20, 1951, which includes a retractor 6 that is operatively connected to a suitable latch member, notshown, and operated by the rotation of either the innerknob I or the outer knob 8 to retract the latch from its latching position when it is desired to open the door.

Each of said inner and outer knobs are rotatably mounted in tubular. sleeves 9 and I0, respectively, which project from opposite sidesI of the case 5 and have threaded thereto suitable roses Il and I2 that t against the outer surfaces of the door andjsecure the lock thereto in operative position.

As shown in Fig. 1, the outer knob 8 has projecting therefrom a tubular spindle I3 which extends into the sleeve Ill and is preferably rotatably secured therein by a suitable securing `member I4; the said knob 8 being preferably hollow and having a cylinder lock I5 of conventional form lwhich is mounted therein and secured in position by means of a iiange I6 that is rigidly connected to the spindle I3 in the manner clearly described in the co-pending application of Nicholas A. Welch, et al., Serial No. 208,743; the said lock I5 having a key plug I'I which projects through an opening in the front wall of the knob 8 and is thereby rendered accessible to receive a key for the operation thereof.

The said `plug I'I projects inwardly from the lock I5 and has secured thereto, by meansV of a pin I8, a shaft I9 which extends into the spindle I3 and has rotatably mounted thereon a cam member 2!) which has a sectoral notch 2I that receives the projecting end of the pin I8 and thereby provides a lost motion connection for operatively connecting the said cam memberwith the inner end of the key plug I1. Thepin I8 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 when the locking mechanism is unlocked.

The said cam member has a stop pin 22 projecting radially therefrom into a sectoral notch 23 in the spindle I3 to thereby permit rotation Aof the cam member 20 independently of the spindle within a predetermined limit which, in the present case, is for the distance of degrees. In addition, the pin 22 permits rotation of the spindle I3 by the key plug to cause retraction of the retractor 3.

In order to provide for locking the outer knob B against rotation and thereby prevent the operation of the lock, there is included in the said mechanism a pair of locking 1balls 24 which are movable in radial openings 2'5 in the spindle I3 by meansof cam surfaces 26 on the cam member 2B so that when the cam member is rotated by the key operation of the key plug II, the said locking balls will be projected into locking notches 21 in the sleeve l0 and thereby prevent rotation of the spindle I3 and consequently prevent operation of the retractor 'B by the outer knob 8.

In the construction shown in Fig. l, the mechanism preferably includes a retaining washer 28 which is slidably secured to the spindle I3 by a tongue and groove connection 29 and is urged against the end of the cam member 2l! by means of a spring 30 that is anchored against a washer 3l secured to the end of the said shaft. The retaining: washer .23 is providedwith a projection 32 which extends intospaced recesses and 311. 'in the end of the cam member to thereby yieldingly retain the said member in predetermined posi.Y

tions relatively to the spindle I3.

The operation of the above improved locking' mechanism is as follows:

Vmally Vurge the cam member .inwardlywithin the knob spindle I3;

The said cam member is secured to the short shaft by means of the pin 38 which extends into a notch 39 in the cam member and provides a When the said mechanism r:is in: theurilocked.-

condition shown in Fig. l, thezcamisurfacesa2li;v are in register with the balls, 24 and will permit said balls to move inwardly inithe" radial open'- ings of the spindle I3 so that the said spindle;4

may be rotated within the sleeve I0 when it is desired.- to. operateY the reti-actor 6 .by means of the'iouter knob.

y Whenitis desired tolcckthesaidmechanism, solastoprevent operatiorrofY the ,retractor 6` by thesouterknob, .tl'iekey plug lis rotated by a suitablekeyin a-clockwise `direction,.as viewed in Fig. 2, and this will'r in turn rotate thepin p I8..and, since .it is irrengagement .withthe end of theanotchll it willfjalsol rotate thecam member 20. fora.. quarterfturnuntil'. the stop, pin.' 22

engages `the. end .of the sectoral. notch .23jY as shown in,.Fig. ,6I and.' the..cam .member is in .the 1ocking..positionJ illustrated in Fig. 7 wherein the locking ballsi .24 fareiprojected, .by the 4outer. surn faces of .1 said. cam member,..thr'oug-h the .radial :f

theV .retractorz 6- by ltherknobs... The .key` plug. is

thenrotated,90..degrees ,in .the opposite direction until the pin I8 resumes Aits. normal .position -therebyzpermitting the keyto bewithdrawn from the plus... When itis desired. to .unlock the. said grecs.. fromv its @normal position in. a counter clockwise direction thereby rotating the cam member to its normal p ositionas illustratedin Fig.1 3; Return. of f the .key plugztothe position illustratedin Fig-.2 willpermit withdrawal of theykey.

AsA the cammember 20; is.-1'otated the .action of Ithe edge of the recessf33. againstlthe..projection 32.., wi1l Vforce. the.. retaining washer..23 .inwardly against the tensionbf.- the. spring 30..-untilthe said.. cam .member is-.rotated` for v90 degrees, and therecess 34 is aligned l with the; `projection. 32. The` said projection-32 will then enter the recess 34 andretain the. cam.` member. in,the..locked position...

Fromthe above .descriptionit will be understood that the lost motion connectionbetween thepin IS randtheendsof thesectoralinotch 2| willlpermit the .plugtobe counter rotated while the cammemberis retained inits locked or..un locked.,positionandthereby permit the alignmentof the. lock `tumblerswithin the. plug I5 with the conventional recess in Athe cylinderof the .lock to thereby permit withdrawal of the key-..

Thelmodied form of theinvention, illustrated in Figs' to l1, is particularly intended for usein connection witha door lock of the `typesuchas fully shown'and described-in a co-pendingapplil cation" of 'Frank J. McConnell, Serial N o. 221,646, i'ed'Apri'l18; 1951;VA In the mechanism of this lostmotion connection, between said cam member and. theshortshaft, allowing a degree rotationof the. short shaft by the key plug independentlybfxthe cam member.

The rotation of the said cam member relatively'tothe knob'spindle is also controlled by means otthexstop pin 22 in the same manner as in Fig. 1.

Inthe said modified form, the.cam.member has, at the inner endY thereof,ya caminotchz 40 providing opposed' cam surfaces. between`A which is received a thrust cam member 4I havingiga pointed outer end providing opposed cam.;sur faces whichiitwithin the notch 40 and cooperate with the cam surfaces thereof. This cam memberAI 'engages a plunger 42' whichV operates .the doorlock mechanism of the said' co=pending McConnell application.

The. thrust cam member 4I isurged against the. end. of the cam member 36 by 'means `of a spring .43and isv slidably secured tothespindle. I3 by means of a stud which projects;into4 va groove i5-on. theY inner .wall of said spindle.

When. it is desired to lock the'said` modified formof'lock mechanism, the short shaft 35'1 is rotated by the key operationof .the keyr plugv l1. This. will rotate the. cam men'lb'er. ll6,` to. the. positionv illustrated. in. Fig.. 9, andV thereby move` the balls 24,' outwardly.. into..theiY locking notches 21 and lock',.the.. knob. spindleragainst rotation as above. described; During r thesaid .rotation of the.. cam .member 36, the. thrust cam..member.4I will.' be. forced. inwardly and.. thereby,Y move. the plunger 42 tooperatethelock .mechanism as described in the said McConnell,co-pendingv application. This modified mechanismwillftherefore permit the .useof the. .above described knob spindle locking means in connectionwith adoor lock so that, if the .outer knob. should. be locked from the inside, such as may bedonefwiththe lockof the; co-pending..McConnell application, it may be unlocked-from the outside, byan authorized. person,A `by simply .rotating,the..camimember `,3 E. with. .the .proper` key .andiorcing.the..thrust cam member 4I inwardly to therebymovethe plunger42 and unlockthe-knob spindle from the inside. The cam-member 3Bk may then be-.turned in the opposite direction, to withdrawvtheV balls 24 from. their locking position, and 'the` outer knob may then be rotated to operate Athe ldoor lock and therebyA retract the latchfmember-.and permit. opening of. thedoor.

When the .door lock is inunlocked` condition and=the` plunger is retracted, rotationof kthe cam member 36 to move the balls. 24into their locking position will merely force the -thrustcam member 4I inwardly against the tension ofthe spring 43 without operating. thesaid plunger..

Itwill-be noted from Fig.v 11 that, when. the key plug is rotatedVthepin 3B =vvill .rotate the cam member 36 lfor a distance of .90. degrees until the stop pin-22 engagestheendoi thenotch 23. With the pin 22 in that position,the .pointed end of the member 4I will fit' into/the notches acarrear 46 at the ends of the cam member 38, as shown in Fig. 9, and thereby retain the said member in its locked position while, due to the allowed movement of the pin 38 within the notch 39, the key plug may be returned to its normal position to thereby return the key tumblers to their aligned position and permit withdrawal of the key from the lock.

I claim:

1. A door lock comprising the combination of a case having a lock mechanism therein, a sleeve secured to the case and extending outwardly therefrom, a'knob having a tubular spindle extending through the sleeve and rotatable therein l through ,the wall thereof and the sleeve having a recess in the inner surface of its wall alignable with said opening, locking means including a ball movable through said opening and extendable from the spindle into the said recess in the sleeve wall for locking the spindle against rotation and preventing operation of the lock mechanism, a cam member rotatable within the spindle and having a cam surface for moving said ball into locking position, means contained Within the knob for operating said cam member, and yieldable means secured to the spindle and engageable with an abutment on the cam member forretaining said cam member in locked and unlocked position to prevent unintentional rotation thereof.

2. A lock comprising a case having a lock mechanism contained therein, a sleeve secured to and extending outwardly from said case, a knob having a tubular spindle extending therefrom through the sleeve and rotatable in said sleeve for operating the lock mechanism, the said spindle having an opening extending through the wall thereof, the said sleeve having a recess in the inner surface thereof in alignment with the said opening in the wall of the spindle, a ball movable in said opening and extendable from said spindle into the recess in the sleeve for locking the spindle against rotation to thereby prevent operation of the lock mechanism, a rotatable cam member contained within the spindle and having a cam surface thereon for moving the ball outwardly into the said recess, key operated means contained within the knob including a key plug loosely connected to the cam member, a shaft extending from the key plug through said cam member, and means including a spring member anchored on said shaft and yieldingly retaining said cam member in position relatively to the spindle.

3. A lock comprising a case having a lock mechanism contained therein, a sleeve secured to and extending outwardly from said case, a knob having a tubular spindle extending through said sleeve and rotatable therein for operating the lock mechanism in the case, the said spindle having a radial opening extending through the wall thereof, the said sleeve having a recess in the inner wall thereof alignable with the opening in the spindle, a ball contained within said opening and extendable from the spindle into the said recess to lock the spindle against rotation and prevent operation of the lock mechanism, a rotatable cam member contained within the spindle and having a cam surface for moving the ball 'into locking position, key operated means including a key plug rotatable in the said knob, means providing a lost motion connection :betweenVV said key plug and cam member and permitting limited rotation of the key plug independently of the cam member, means for limiting the rotation of the cam member relatively to the spindle, a retaining member slidably secured to the spindle, and spring means urging said retaining member for yieldingly retaining the cam member against rotation relatively to the spindle and in locked and unlocked posil tions. i

4. A lock comprising a case having a lock mec anism contained therein, a sleeve secured to and extending outwardly from said case, a knob having a tubular spindle extending through said sleeve and rotatable therein for operating the lock mechanism, said spindle having openings extending through the wall thereof and the sleeve having recesses on the inner surface thereof alignable with said openings, balls movable within the openings and extendable from the spindle into the said recesses for locking the spindle against rotation and preventing operation of the lock mechanism, a cam member rotatable within the spindle for moving said balls into locking position, key operated means within the knob for rotating said cam member, a member slidable. within said spindle upon the rotation of the said cam member, and a plunger extending into said spindle and movable by said slidable member for affecting the lock mechanism.

5. A lock as set forth in claim 4 wherein the rotatable cam member is provided with cam surfaces at the end thereof engageable with cam surfaces upon the slidable member for moving said slidable member upon the rotation of the rotatable cam member.

6. A lock comprising a case having a sleeve extending outwardly therefrom, a lock mechanism contained within said case, an outer knob, a tubular spindle extending from said outer knob through the sleeve and rotatable in said sleeve for operating the said lock mechanism, the said spindle having openings extending radially through the walls thereof and the said sleeve having recesses in the inner surfaces thereof alignable with the said openings, balls movable in the said openings and extendable from the spindle into the said recesses for locking the spindle against rotation relatively to the sleeve and preventing rotation of the locking mechanism, a rotatable cam member within the spindle having cam surfaces for moving the balls to locking position, a member slidable within the spindle and movable upon rotation of the cam member, the said slidable member being secured against rotation relatively to the spindle, a spring urging said slidable member into engagement with the cam member, a plunger extending into said spindle and movable by said slidable member for conditioning the lock mechanism, key operated means within the knob including a key plug, and means connecting said key plug with the cam member; the said connecting means including a projection on the key plug extending into the cam member, a spring between said projection and cam member normally urging the cam member into contact with the slidable member to thereby yieldingly retain the cam member against unintentional rotation relatively to the spindle, a pin and notch connection between said plug and cam member for connecting the plug to the cam member and permitting limited independent rotation of the plug, and means for limiting rotation of the cam member relatively to the spindle.

7. A lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein the yieldablefmeans include :a memberaslidablewithin'r-the 'spindle andvvsecured. aga-instirotation, rela.- tivelytheretqan-abutmenton.saidslidablefmemf -ber 4fengageable; f with an abutment' on `the y cam memberrand ispring means for urgingy .said abutrnientsjirrtov engagement;

85A L-lockfasA-'setz'forth iniclaimyz wherein ,the retainingmean's further include a retainingwasher upon the shaft and slidably secured to the spindleeagainst rotation relatively thereto, andy Wherey in :-the-11springi member yieldingly furges the .said retaining.;washerv against the -cam member,- and interengageablef Aabutmerits on y said Yretaining Washer and cam member. x

9;:A .lock-asi set 1 forthn-ola-im 61 wherein the slidable .memberf is ,-.;ye1dab1y fiengageableL with notches .infthe -enolof the.. cam member ltoretain saidA earn member againstunntentional. rotation relatively. to the spindle@ l NICHOLAS A. WELCH.'

REFERENCESv CITED 'Y Thel following lreferences areof record, inu the le of this patent:

y UNITED STATES PATENTS? Number 

